Football game



RIRUBINO E'l AL FOOTBALL GAME Filed March 19, 1926 i atented Oct. 19,1926.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFIFICE.

nonnnr RUBINO, or BABYLON, AND WALLACE H'. WI'1COMIBE, or MOUNT VERNON,

NEW 11031:.

FOOTBALL GAQIE.

Application filed March 10, 1926. Serial No. aaseo,

. This invention relates to improvements in games to be played in the home and more particularly to a football game and the principal'obj ect is the provision of a game which 6 is similar to the actual game of football as played on the field and which enables the 7 players of the gameto carry out the moves of the football players or men in substantially the same fashion and method as in the 1 outdoor football game, and'inwhich strategy and skill form a decided factor in the success or non-success of the players.

. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as hereinafter appear, this invention consists the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and then sought tobe defined in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and which show merely for the purpose of illustrative disclosurea preferred embodiment of our invention, it being expressly understood,however, that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims without digressin from our inventive idea.

Another 0 ject of this invention is the provision in combination in a game of this character of game pieces or men which sim- BOJ ulate in appearance and posture the human football layers or men, certain of the pieces or men eing formed so as to stand in .a standin running position to receive and carry t e ball and others in a kneeling charging position, whereby, in playing the .game the kick. ofi, runs, Scrimmages, forwardpasses, interference, taking out and other plays are all duplicated in a verylifelike mannerand fashion.

In the drawings Figure -1 is a perspective view of a game board or cloth and. other paraphernaha of the game with the game piecesor men arranged in a 'scrimmage formation'as in playin the game. I

.. 'iigure 2 is a perspective view of two 'ame pieces or men, one being one of the acks' or ends carryingmthe ball and the other being one of the emen tackling the ball carrier. g

Figure 3 is a perspective view of twoofthef game pieces or men,both of these being line- -the ball and The ball itsel men shown in the position which results from taking out interference and the like.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a miniature football an tee used in the game.

The game may be played on a game board or on a cloth or similar medium and the field is laid out on a scale to correspond to the'outdoor game of football. The field is marked with the boundary lines .1 and 2 and the five-yard lines 3 extending transversely of the field. In edition to that the small squares 4 are provided-by additional longitudinal'arfd transverse lines on substantially, any scale that ma be desired. At the endiof each field are plh ced goal posts. These may be of various forms. We have found the form illustrated to be a ood one for the practice of this game. he goal posts 5 have bases 6 and cross standards with the net 7, which is adapted to receive fprevent the same-being lost.

any suitable material, being of such size as to accom lish the'functions hereinafter set forth. n kicking ofi' or kicking a goal a small tee or elevation 9 is provided to receive the ball 8 and the kickin operation is performed by the player ipping his finger against the ball, causing it to fly through the air as in the outdoor game.

, A "very important feature" of this invention resides in the game pieces or men or players who are used for the purposeof playing the game. These game P160385 or men are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and, as shown, are" preferably in two forms, one formv 10 representing the linemen, and the other form 11 representing the backs and ends. The former ame ieces or men 10 are shown in a knee ing 0 arging osition being supported upon one knee or oot and on one hand, just. as the posture simulatin the position of the players in the actuzfl game. The other game pieces 'or men 11 are shown in a standing -running position, as wellas a ball receiving and carrying position. An important feature about these last-mentioned game pieces or men is the positionof the arms 12 which are -extended and turned and bent so as to' catch and re 8 is a miniature football of ceive and hold the ball 8. These, arms are" I so shaped and proportioned 'and.arr anged and the ball 8 is of such a size that it will 'tion.

to practice the game pieces or men 11; Of course, the ball 8 is passed and placed in the arms of one of the game pieces or men 11 by the human player of the game, but the placing of the ball in the arms of these game pieces or men affords the opportunity for fumbles just as in the outdoor game of football. All of' the game pieces or men 10 and 11 are or may be decoratedto imitate uniforms 'or colors of schools, colleges or clubs and carry numbers on their backs and have head guards or other playing paraphernalia, and in fact duplicate to a marked degree the appearance of the players on the field of the outdoor game of football. Of course, these game pieces or men are decorated so that two teams maybe represented as opponents.

The game is played in accordance with the same rules as the outdoor game of football and all the various plays of that game may be carried out by means of this inven- On the kick off and from scrimmage the game pieces or men are-arranged by the human player having charge of each side in just the same fashion as the players in the outdoor game of football. The ball is put into play the same way and interference is formed in the same way and defendmg players are taken out and the interfering players taken out and the ball carried in the same way. As a matter of fact in actually playing the game the use of the game pieces or men to take out the defense or take out the interference results in a most accurate duplication of many of the scenes on the football field.

Of course, the carrying out of the game is to be in accordance with a certain system of moving and this is the only substantial difference between this game and the outdoor football game, but that very factor playing this game in is an advantage in that all element of chance, such as spinning counters or throwing dice, is eliminated, and the result of the game depends upon the skill and strate of the human player in charge of eachside. This, of course, adds to the interest of the game, making it available to players of all ages, young or old. F uthermore it takes it out of the game class alone and puts it into the class of devices for instructing or coaching as it serves admirably for not only illustrating the plays that actually occur or should occur in actual football games but also enables theplayers .various ofi'ensive plays and the defenses for these various plays, and also to practice strategy and the defense for 'the strategy that might arise in actual football games. It, therefore, aflords an excellent instructive medium for use by all persons actually engaged in playing football or the instruction and coaching of players therein, as well as an indoor game of atest. 4

As stated above, various procedures may be provided for playing this game and determining the method of play and one procedure will now be described. The game pieces or m en are lined up for the kick ofi as in the outdoor game. The ball is kicked by the player of the side having possession of theball by flipping the finger, as previously described. If the ball rests on 'a square occupied by one of the receiving game pieces or men, it is then placed in his arms by the player having charge of that side with the opportunity for a fumble, above referred to. The player of the receiving side then moves each of his game pieces or men in accordance with a predetermined procedure or method. In the field illustrated in accordance with the plan being described, each gamepiece or man may be moved through one complete square either sidewise, forward, backward or diagonally, and also may be moved forward or sidewise two spaces and one space at right angles thereto, corresponding to the movement of the knight in chess. Each game piece or man of the receiving or offensive side or team is moved by the player having charge of that side in accordance with this method or procedure, the effort, object and intent being to advance the ball, form interference for the game piece or man with the ball and takeout the defensive game pieces or men. Then the player having charge of the opposing or defensive side or team moves eachgame piece or man on his side in accordance with the same method -or procedure, the elfortfiobject and intent being to prevent or stop the advance of the ball, take out the interfering game 'pieces or men, tackle the game piece or rnan with the ball and in general to organize the defense to meet the offensive play to prevent gain. When two game pieces or men occupy. the same space they are taken out either ofthe interference or of the defense asthe case may be. "Moves are made by the players in charge of the opposing sides or teams in alternation until thegame piece or man carrying or running with the ball is downed by one of the game pieces or men of the opposing team or .side occupying the same square,

'or until the game iece or man with the ball eld and makes a toucha tractive appearance and engrossing intertit) izo

The game pieces or men may be formed, molded or cast in any suitable way and of any suitable material. It is to be noted that the linemen are rather nicely balanced on one hand and one foot in charging position, which results in very realistic tumbling of these men when they have bodily contact with each other. This is a material factor in addin to the lifelike character of the game an the attractive appearance thereof.

What we claim is 1. In combination in a game of the character described adapted to reproduce the appearance and the plays of the outdoor game of football on a game board, a plurality of game pieces or men formed to simulate the appearance of human football players on a small scale, certain of said game pieces or men being formed so as to rest on one hand and part of one leg in a so-called charging position to simulate the appearance of the linemen of a football team composed of human players.

2. In combination in a game of the character described adapted to reproduce the appearance and the plays of the outdoor game of football on a game board, a plurality of game pieces or men formed to simulate the appearance of human football players on a small scale, certain of said game pieces or men being formed in a standing, running and ball receiving position with armsextended and bent to receive a ball, said game ieces or men constituting the ends and acks of the team.

3. In combination in a game of the character described adapted to reproduce the appearance and the plays of the outdoor game of football on a game board, a plurality of game pieces or men formed to simulate the appearance of human football players on a small scale, certain of said game pieces or men being formed so as to rest on one hand and part of one leg in a so-called charging position to simulate the appearance of the linemen of a football team composed of human players, and certain others of said ame pieces or men being formed in a standing running and ball receiving positionwith arms extended and bent to receive a ball, said game pieces or men constituting the ends and backs of the team.

4. An indoor football game adapted to be played on a game board or the like including a field outlined on the game board with mar inal lines and having a plurality of longitudinal and transverse lines to form squares or rectangles on said field, goal posts at each end of t e field, a miniature football, a tee on which the football may be supported for simulating a kick in football, a plurality of game pieces or men, said game pieces or men being sufficient in number to form two sides or teams and bein made and decorated in the form of human football players, certain of said game pieces or men being formed so as to rest on one hand and part of the opposite leg to simulate a charging position, said game pieces or men being the linemen, and certain others of said game pieces or men being formed in a standing. I

running and ball receivin position having their arms extended and cut so as to receive said ball when placed therein, said last-mentioned game ieces or men being the backs of the team, w ereby the appearance and the plays of the outdoor game of football may be simulated and carried out on said game board.

5. In combination in a game of the character described adapted to reproduce the appearance and the plays of the outdoor game of football on a game board, a plurality of game pieces or men formed to simulate the appearance of human football players on a small scale, certain'of said game pieces or men being formed so as to rest on one hand and part of one leg in a so-called charging position to simulate the appearance of the linemen of a football team composed of human players, said game pieces or men being balanced on said supporting parts so as to be readily upset or tumbled upon contact with another game piece or man.

In testimony that we claim the foregoin we have hereunto set our hands this lltfi day of March, 1926.

ROBERT RUBINO. WALLACE H. WITCOMBE. 

